5 Skills Every Health Information Technology Professional Must Have

In the healthcare industry, the creation of secure, accurate and complete patient data records is vital. This is why the majority of the employers require electronic health record professionals to pass particular requirements and get certifications.

If you’re thinking of joining this fast-growing industry, there are skills you need to learn to get a competitive edge.

You Must Be Educated

While this isn’t really a skill, the first thing employers look for is your level of education. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, companies hire applicants who hold an Associate’s degree or post-secondary certification.

You Must Have Good Communication Skills

This involves both written and oral communication. Having this skill down to pat will help you work effectively with doctors, nurses and other professionals in the healthcare industry. Health information technology professionals are often responsible for explaining to doctors about new healthcare coding regulations. Sometimes, they are responsible to explain new policies to the staff.

You Need to Have Good Computer Skills

Microsoft Excel is one of software commonly used in this line of work. Doctors often use this program to track the quantity of patients they see on a monthly basis. Health information technology professionals can sometimes be asked to compare workflow and workload data of various doctors in varying periods.

You Must Be Detail-Oriented

It’s not enough that you are highly organized, you must also have a great eye for detail. This is a very crucial skill given how inaccurate data can balloon into a bigger problem that can affect not just the doctors’ credibility but also the entire organization and the health of the patients.

In an electronic health records training, specialists work to equip you with the right skills or improve the current skill set that you already possess in order to be an efficient health information technology professional. While requirements vary by facility, professionals in this field can advance to higher positions after taking a master’s degree program and completing requirement certifications.